Food and Drinks to Try in Ghent, Ghent, Belgium (B)

Belgian gastronomy is too often summed up to beer, chocolate and waffles. There is a lot more to it, and Ghent is the perfect city to explore the wide range of yummy foods and innovative drinks! On top of this, its vibrant student life makes Ghent’s nightlife lively and a forerunner for vegetarian and even vegan fares in Belgium.

To start, go to the Great Butchers’ Hall, the unmistakable 15th century covered market hall along the Lys (Leie) River. For 400 years, until the late 19th century, this iconic building was the only place in town were meat could be inspected and sold. The noble cuts were sold inside while just outside the Great Butcher’s Hall were the small “Tripe Houses”, where inferior products such as meat scraps, entrails and tripes were sold.

Today regional products are promoted in the medieval hall. Inside, marvel at the unique wooden roof structure. Hundreds of Ghent’s high-quality cured Ganda hams are hung to these beams to age for about 10 months before being sold and served. It is one of the 175 local products from East Flanders that can be tasted here for breakfast or lunch: East-Flemish tapas, artisan cheeses, croquettes, bread with pickles, plates of East-Flemish sweets… Do not miss out on a bite at the Great Butchers’ Hall! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).